Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology

BACK TO THE LIVER

Introduction

The gallbladder stores bile produced in the liver. Bile is important in the digestion of lipids.

Structure

Location of the Canine Gallbladder - Copyright RVC 2008

• Lies between the right medial and quadrate lobes of the liver

• Partly attached

• Partly free

Function

• Stores bile

• Concentrates bile by absorption through the folded mucosal wall

Innervation

• Parasympathetic nerves

Histology

Histology of the Guinea-pig Gallbladder - Copyright RVC 2008

• Highly folded mucosa

• Reduced submucosa

• No lamina muscularis

• Simple columnar epithelium

• No glands

Species Differences

Equine

• The horse has no gallbladder

Rodents

• Rats do not have a gallbladder

Canine

• In some dogs, the gallbladder is so deeply embedded it makes contact with the diaphragm and contacts the parietal surface

• Thinest layers of tunica muscularis

Bovine

• Thickest layers of tunica muscularis

Links

Pathology of the Gall Bladder